Can a Three-Day Cycle Time Become Commonplace
Jon McNeill, CEO, Sterling Collision Centers Natick, Mass. Opinion: Yes The average repair has somewhere between 17 and 19 hours on the sheet. If you look at those 17 or 19 hours, there has to be somewhere to cram that into a three-day period – or even 24 hours. What you have to do is
Off With the Parts!
Shuffling new parts from metal department to paint department and back again is beginning to show its age. Though industry critics insist painting parts off the car isn’t a practical alternative, some production shops disagree – and have the reduced cycle times and increased profits to prove it.
Is Your Paint Shop Profitable?
It’s all in the numbers. By taking out your calculator and figuring how well you’re doing on your key performance indicators, you can quickly determine where you’re proficient in the paint shop and where you’re just painting yourself into a corner.
Adventure Bound: The 2001 Chevy Avalanche
What’s unique about this cutting-edge vehicle? It combines aspects of an SUV and a pickup truck. It’s been dubbed the “ultimate utility vehicle,” or UUV … sort of how Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups satisfy those who love chocolate and peanut butter. So what’s new? The whole model. It’s the first new car model by Chevy
Battling the Immoral Majority: Is It Worth It
Recently, a husband and wife team of shop owners were caught red-handed committing fraud. As they were led away wearing handcuffs, it seemed like an ending to a movie: Bad guys do bad things, bad guys get caught, bad guys get hauled off by the authorities. The end. Roll credits. But life doesn’t always imitate art. The reality is, the husband and wife team are back … back at it again … at the same location and with all their past direct-repair programs still in place.
The Florida Notice on A/M Parts: Bad or Good
When analyzing the whole aftermarket (A/M) crash parts issue, it reminds me of a story I tell in business seminars that goes like this: Two hikers are walking through the woods when they come across a baby bear cub. Both become intrigued because they’ve never been able to get so close to a bear before.
Complain to the Right People
If a CAPA part doesn’t work for whatever reason, sitting around the shop complaining about it won’t solve the problem. Take the time you’d spend griping and fill out a CAPA Part Complaint Form instead
Before You Hand Over the Cash
When you’re looking to purchase new measuring or straightening equipment, price shouldn’t be the only consideration. To be sure you end up with the right system, analyze your current and future business needs before you make a deal.
Ditch Your One-Dimensional Ways
Only selling collision repair service these days? Diversification is the answer
to getting your profits back and making your business worth owning.
Analyzing “McDonald” izing
The concepts that made McDonald’s arguably the most successful small business in the world can help propel your collision business to the next level of success.